Monday, March 31, 2008

I added three succulent plants to the sill of the window above the sink. I seem to be able to kill anything that I touch (plant-wise, that is). I'm hoping that these will have a longer shelf-life. They're just too cute to die.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Home at last. We have spent the last 7 hours trying to take care of my poor sick husband. He's been sick the last few days, and has been running a fever for about 3 days. I decided this afternoon that it was time to go to the doctor due to him looking particularly pitiful.

Well, we left for the doctor's office at around 2:30. When we got there, he started feeling pretty bad. The nurse took us back and took his blood pressure. It was surprisingly low and he was looking really pale. When the doctor saw him, he said that it was probably the flu, but he wanted to do more tests to make sure that the low blood pressure (and his looking so bad) didn't indicate another problem...and since it was Friday afternoon, the only place to get it all done was at the hospital.

So, we were on our way to the ER. And a mere 4.5 hours later, we were on our way home with a diagnosis of....the flu (and some prescription painkillers).

All in all, I guess I'm thankful that it's just the flu. Although it did make for a long day (especially for the poor man with the flu who had to spend the day in waiting rooms).

Is there anything better that a Jane Austen novel? I think that this has been one of my favorites to read, simply because I went into it knowing nothing about it. Most of my other readings have been clouded by previously watched movies, or by being forced to read them for book reports.

I love Austen because she idealizes my sense of romance. I find it very difficult to relate to modern novels and movies. They cloud romance. They cloud it with sex, divorce, motives, lust, infidelity, etc.. I love the purity of two people of good character falling in love, and loving the other for all the good that they are. That is my ideal.

However, my world does not represent either of these ideals (neither Austen nor modern romance). Real life falls somewhere in between. At least mine does. It is impossible to deny the world we live in. Even when you do your best to block out the world, when you marry someone, you marry another sinful being. Two sinful people cannot create a relationship that is anything close to ideal.

So what do we do? God created man and women for each other. But, he never promised us romance. This world is always going to be clouded by sin. He does, however, give us instructions. They may not always make sense in light of this world but they are for our own good. And as we learn God's heart they make more and more sense.

Jane Austen captures the ideal. There is always pure, true love and a happily ever after. As a Christian, I know that God promises me the same through his love and promise to keep me with him always. I think that's where my hunger for romance comes from. From a desire to feel love shining upon me. In this world, the closest we get is an enraptured lover. I am looking forward to the day that I can feel the pure and beautiful love of God without the filter of sin. Sorry, Jane Austen, but I don't think that I'll need you anymore then.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

This is the quilt that I made for Jay's brother's new baby. I hope to be able to hand make a quilt for each niece and nephew that comes along. Hopefully life won't get too crazy and I'll be able to see that through. I think that it turned out cute.

I've been excited about having a new niece. I think that it's because I was close to my aunts and uncles growing up. Especially the ones that lived nearby. Very few weekends went by when we didn't see family sometime or another. I think that I've appreciated it more since my Uncle Rick passed away a few years ago. He was a woodworker and made me a cradle when I was born...and later a rocking horse, and a doll house. I am eagerly anticipating the day when we have our first child and I can retrieve those items from the attic.

Monday, March 24, 2008

I got my hair cut last week. I have a cycle of growing my hair long and then cutting it off chin length that been going on since I was in middle school. When I got my hair cut in September, I decided that I need to try to keep it short for a little while. When I had it cut last week, I think I went shorter than I've ever gone before.

Now I have to decide whether to keep it short or let it grow out after this cut. Jay said that it's a little bit too short for him in the back, but I kind of like it. For now, anyway.

Here are some Easter desserts that I made. It was just me and Jay this year, so I wanted to do something special. They turned out so cute. It's just shredded wheat covered in melted chocolate and peanut butter, and shaped into nests (with little Robin's Eggs candy). Another idea to file for when we have kids.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Actually, I originally made this dress for my brother's engagement party last week. I think I'm going to wear it for my Easter dress this year. I purchased the fabric several months ago at Discount Fabrics (only for the true bargain hunter...you never know what you're going to find there, but when you do find something is fabulously cheap). I think that it was $1.99/yd. The dress is Vogue pattern V1027. I don't often get to sew with a pattern, but when I do it's so much quicker. I think I got the pattern on sale for $4, so that's about $10 for a dress. Not too bad.

With both my brother and sister getting married this year, I'm going to need plenty of dresses for showers and such. Last week, we got three wedding invitations in the mail. It's going to be a busy year.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

My poor little le pooch was sick yesterday. Sky started throwing up two days ago, and when she got up yesterday morning, she did not seem to feel well at all. She wouldn't move and refused to walk anywhere and seemed to be in pain. I decided to take her to the vet because she was acting so pathetic. Fortunately, he said that it was probably just a stomach bug and gave her some anti-nausea medicine. She seems to be feeling much better now.

I don't know what I'm going to do when I have children and they get sick. It was breaking my heart to see my dog in pain yesterday. I don't know if I would have the strength to see my child in pain. But, I guess that the Lord gives us strength when we need it.

So, cheers to all of you mommies out there taking care of sick ones and all of your strength and hard work.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Over the past year I've started reading a lot of blogs. Most of them are design blogs. These are useful to keep up with trends and style. The rest of them are blogs of people's lives. I think that they're my favorites.

I love having a window into other's lives. I enjoy their transparency and being to relate to struggles, even if they derive from very different sources.

I am not perfect. My life is not neat and tidy. Nor is my house, generally. It is, however, easy to pretend when carefully editing a post for all of cyberworld to see.